Camelot Jedimaster warms up for Raider Stakes

Lightly raced four-year-old gelding Camelot Jedimaster warmed up for Sunday night’s Raider Stakes with a 1.8m win in Launceston on Friday night.

From a second-row draw over the 1680m trip, driver Kayleb Williams positioned the gelded son of Sutter Hanover one-out and two-back before racing three wide for the final 850m of the race to score in a mile rate of 1:58.5s.

“We were really happy. He got home in under 56 seconds the start before, and he only got out late. He pulled up really well from that, and we were confident going into the race,” said trainer Deborah Williams, who is no relation to the driver.

It was the third career win at start 14 for the pacer, the only one she currently has in work.

“We have only got one in work, and we moved up here (to Flowery Gully from Bagdad) two years ago, and I suppose we just had him in and out while we moved. He works on his own, so he has only been with other horses in his 13 starts and a couple of trials.

“He can be a bit hard to handle or do anything with, but he is good once he is in the cart,” said the trainer.

Camelot Jedimaster will line up in next Sunday’s Raider Stakes Final after qualifying in the heat behind Nyack earlier this month, and the trainer is expecting the pacer to enjoy the long distance of the final.

“I know Nyack and Do Goey are in the race, but I think he will run out the 2698m. We work him over a bit of distance, and with a bit of luck, hopefully, he can run a place. After that, we may put him out for a few weeks, we will just see what’s about, I suppose, she said.

Camelot Jedimaster was also bred by Deborah, with her husband Ash and their daughter Chloe, with the trio also owners of the gelding.

The win was the second leg of a driving double for Kayleb, who shared driving honours at the meeting with Brodie Davis and Rohan Hillier, who also drove doubles.

Training honours went to Geoff Smith with a double.